The menu features cuisine inspired by a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese flavor profiles
When 595 Craft and Kitchen opened in June 2017, the main focus of the venue was craft beer and that was what initially attracted patrons. While it is still a huge draw for locals, the food menu has evolved to the point where just as many guests come in for the cuisine as they do for the brews.
595 Craft and Kitchen, situated on the southeast corner of Tropicana and Rainbow, takes its name from the section of Rainbow Boulevard designated as State Route 595. From the Asian fusion menu to the family-friendly dining area, here’s everything you need to know about this unique food destination.
Cozy Neighborhood Bar Décor
The décor features repurposed wood walls, oodles of metal and neon beer signs, a mounted buffalo head, an industrial-style ceiling and a multi-colored chalk beer list. When the weather permits, they open their garage door-style wall letting the sunshine illuminate the restaurant. A novel addition is a strip to set your glass on built into the metal bar top, which is filled with glycol to maintain the cool temperature of your drink.
Plenty of Beer on Tap
As for the beer, 595 Craft and Kitchen’s bar pours a very high-quality lineup from 24 taps that constantly changes. On draft, they offer a varied range of beer styles such as rauchbier, coffee brown ale, pilsner, sour ale and IPA. They also utilize a cooler with 70 more kinds of canned beer that you can enjoy while dining in or later at home.
The gastro pub has distinguished itself as being an establishment that supports local beer and has also become a hangout for local brewers; during my recent visit, I sighted one brewery owner and three local brewers, one of whom shared that the reasons he frequents 595 is because of their support for local businesses, the quality of their beer and especially their food.
Inspirations for Menu Creation
General Manager, Co-owner and Lead Dishwasher, Van-Alan Nguyen hails from San Diego where he worked in management for In N Out Burger and as a consultant for small restaurants. While working for these food establishments, he learned the numbers side of the business before coming to Las Vegas, which prepared him well for his first restaurant venture.
Regarding the menu compilation, Nguyen says, “I enjoy taking flavors that belong in one cuisine and fusing them with something else—Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese—as there is a lot of overlap and similarities in the flavor profiles.”
He added that four iterations of the menu have rolled out since the restaurant’s opening, but the DNA has remained the same, with the core items being the chicken sandwich, banh mis, craft burger and nachos. One of the biggest changes they implemented was repurposing proteins from sandwiches that were going to waste by incorporating them into a dish like the garbage nachos. The garbage nachos is made up of brisket, pork belly, chicken, pico de gallo, guacamole and cilantro lime crema, which is now one of their top sellers.
Stars of the Menu
The banh mi sandwiches are still a fan favorite, with the most popular being the more traditional BBQ pork. The BBQ pork sandwich is loaded with lemongrass honey soy glazed pork shoulder, pickled veggies, cilantro and jalapeño mayo. Other variations include pork belly, crispy cauliflower, brisket and chicken.
The sauces and proteins are made from scratch and the kitchen staff is welcome to add their creations as specials, which changes periodically; some have become so popular that they have made it onto the menu permanently. This is how the tom kha pasta with char broiled ginger garlic chicken in a coconut-based soup/pasta sauce became a staple.
Another crowd pleaser is the 5-spice pork spare ribs with char siu sauce and a current special: spicy tuna sashimi with chili ponzu, spicy rub and cabbage slaw.
To keep their business open amid the pandemic, they introduced additional takeout menu items that are more filling and wholesome. This innovation led to them offering a combination of the proteins and ingredients of the banh mi sandwiches in healthier rice bowl versions.
A Family-Friendly Local Spot
Although it is well known for its craft beer focus, 595 is quite family-friendly, as it is non-smoking and non-gaming. The dining room area is open to all ages and it’s a common occurrence to find several kids faring with their families. There’s even a children’s menu for guests 12 and under with options of a mini burger with fries and a cheese quesadilla with fries.
As 595 Craft and Kitchen approaches its five-year anniversary, the neighborhood eatery remains one of the only craft beer establishments in the area that caters to both beer connoisseurs and family-friendly diners. The restaurant continues to attract guests with its excellent food and a fun, varied menu.
The restaurant and pub are open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 1 a.m. and Friday through Saturday noon to 2 a.m. Happy hour is offered Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to close. The Happy hour menu consists of several deals on food and drink including $2 off all local beers. On Sunday, industry members receive 20 percent off their tab.
Restaurant Information
595 Craft and Kitchen
4950 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89118
702-586-1050
